Talakai is one of more than a dozen Sharks who will be out of contract at the end of 2026 and would be one of the Bears' biggest signing to date, as the only one with any previous State of Origin experience (two games in 2022).
The 28-year-old will likely decide by the end of the week whether he'll become the 14th player for sign for the inaugural Perth Bears squad.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald that it was "going to be hard to get a deal done" at the Sharks due to rising salary cap pressures not assisted by the signing of Addin Fonua-Blake and upgraded contract for Nicho Hynes last year.
The security and stability of a three-year contract is also likely to top Talakai over the line to move west.
"It's something my partner and I have been talking about, and we know it's a great opportunity," Talakai said.
"Why wouldn't you want to go over there and be a founding member as well?”
“I don't want to stand in the way of any players coming through. I'm definitely entertaining the Perth deal.”
Talakai spoke of his heartwrenching reluctance to leave Cronulla, a club that "gave me everything I've got now".
“When I’ve had to think about the contract situation, and when going back and forth with my manager and partner, and looking back through the years, it kind of brought me to tears.
“I haven’t had the chance to go over there, but Perth holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I debuted for South Sydney in 2016, and I played my first Origin game with the Blues in 2022.”
Perth Bears squad:
(Current club, contract length)
Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos, 2 years), Chris Vea'ila (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, 2 years), James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos, 2 years), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos, 2 years), Tyran Wishart (Melbourne Storm, 5 years), Toby Sexton (Catalans Dragons, 2 years), Sean Russell (Parramatta Eels, 4 years), Nick Meaney (Melbourne Storm, 3 years), Luke Smith (London Broncos, 2 years), Luke Laulilii (Wests Tigers, 2 years), Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers, 4 years), Josh Curran (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 3 years), Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui (Catalans Dragons, 2 years)